South Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups, in collaboration with the Korea Startup Forum, is set to host the much-anticipated “COMEUP 2023”, which will take place from November 8 to 10 at the famous Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul . On the occasion of its 5th anniversary, COMEUP 2023 is preparing to become a major global startup festival, surpassing previous editions in terms of scale and importance. With an impressive 60% of startups originating from outside South Korea, COMEUP 2023, adopts its 2023 theme, “We Move the World,” highlighting its commitment to continued innovation and development of the global startup ecosystem.
A convergence of innovation in Asia and beyond
Since its inception in 2019, COMEUP has grown into a global startup event that connects South Korea’s thriving startup ecosystem with a global audience. This year’s edition will bring together innovative startups, forward-thinking investors and entrepreneurial leaders from 29 countries, meaning a substantial increase in participation compared to previous years.
The growing international interest can be attributed to successful collaborations between the Korean government and foreign partners, which have resulted in a notable increase in event participation over the years:
- 2019: 21,102 participants
- 2020: 59,054 participants
- 2021: 50,291 participants
- 2022: 57,560 participants
COMEUP 2023 expands its reach to 29 countries, up from 20 participating countries in 2022, consolidating its position as the leading global startup festival in Asia.
Paving the way for a global startup hub
Minister LEE Young of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups highlights: “The world has entered the “digital age of exploration”, where competition knows no boundaries. In this new era, the role of startups, with their flexibility, speed and digital technology, is essential. COMEUP 2023 is set to facilitate interactions between Korean startups and the global community, promoting international engagement in the heart of Asia.
What awaits you at COMEUP 2023?
The particularity of COMEUP 2023 is the creation of a dedicated “Global Community Zone”. This vibrant zone is the result of COMEUP’s proactive engagement with global startup communities and recent government visits to startup-friendly countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The Global Community Zone will bring together delegates from around the world, including the United States, France, Germany, Switzerland, Indonesia, Cambodia, Senegal, Uganda, and more.
This dynamic zone will offer IR pitches to attract investments, conducted on a dedicated stage, and stimulating conferences. Additionally, COMEUP has established an online business matching program, operational year-round, to expand investment and collaboration opportunities crucial for startup growth.
- Global CVC Conference – Opening the Way to Investment
For the first time in 2023, COMEUP will organize a “Global CVC Conference”, with the participation of more than 160 venture capital (VC) investors. The groundbreaking event, a collaboration between British media company GCV and the Korea Venture Capital Association, will be held on November 9-10. The Global CVC conference aims to facilitate large investments and international market entry for startups.
- Nourishing innovation: meet the stars of COMEUP
COMEUP 2023 continues its pioneering action »The stars of COMEUP», dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative startups with the potential to become the next unicorns of the world of entrepreneurship. This program provides a unique platform of mentoring, networking and investment opportunities for early-stage startups from South Korea and beyond.
THE COMEUP Star Program This year, 13 leading Korean and foreign venture capital firms and accelerators are closely collaborating with 10 promising startups each. The goal is to identify and nurture startups at various stages of development, providing them with intensive mentoring and pre-matching with investors.
- Open Innovation Day: celebrating 20 years of collaboration
In honor of the 20th anniversary of Open innovation concept, COMEUP 2023 designates the second day of the event (November 9) as “Open Innovation Day”. This day will feature successful cases of collaboration between large, medium and startups, including global giants like NVIDIA, Dassault Systèmes, Hyundai Motor Company, BMW and Naver Cloud.
The program will address various aspects of open innovation through panel discussions, sharing practical insights and presenting tangible evidence of how innovative partnerships can drive value and growth.
- Inspiration from the leading voices of COMEUP 2023
COMEUP 2023 promises engaging conferences featuring renowned figures from the world of startups and entrepreneurship. The event will bring together musicians, industry leaders and government officials to share valuable information and inspire startups and entrepreneurs.
The conference includes several sessions covering essential topics related to the startup lifecycle, providing a rich source of knowledge and practical advice to budding and established entrepreneurs.
Keynote speaker Zior Park, musician and influencer, and Mahdi Shariff, founder of Humble, will share their stories and insights, providing invaluable lessons and motivation to attendees. Foreign panels and speakers will bring a global perspective on startups, with the active participation of the UAE Minister of Economy and the Saudi Minister of SMEs and Startups, providing a unique insight into the Middle East entrepreneurial landscape.
Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of an extraordinary global startup festival! Join us at COMEUP 2023 November 8-10 in Seoul.
For more information and to register, please visit the official website: (COMEUP 2023, Website)
For inquiries, please contact: Doyeon Kang at +82-2-6211-9400
Hosted/organized/cooperated by: Ministry of SMEs and Startups and Korea Startup Forum
Discover the previous editions of COMEUP,
